The Best White Noise Machines For Therapy Offices – 5 Must-See Models

June 27, 2018

Without a doubt, therapy offices should be a comfortable place of focus where the therapist and patient are able to communicate without distraction. Masking outside noises, voices, and other sounds is often difficult. That’s where white noise machines come in.

As I have friends who are therapists, I’ve been fortunate enough to see firsthand just how wonderfully beneficial they are. In this post I’ll help you pick the best white noise machine for your therapy office.

Included below are 5 fantastic models with short reviews and details to know before buying. There’s also some great basic information as well as tips regarding placement and how many you’ll need.

What is white noise?

Above: a graph showing what white noise my look like on a graph of volume vs audio frequency. The term “white noise” is used in several different areas of science. Everything from electrical signals to audio production and testing. To most people, however, it describes the production of sound with equal volume over the entire audio spectrum your ears can hear. Because of that, it’s very useful for “masking”, or covering up, distracting sounds.

White noise is a very interesting subject, but one that’s often confused or mislabeled a bit.

For the purpose of virtually eliminating distracting sounds and providing a more effective therapy environment, here’s what you need to know: white noise is the full range production of sound frequencies capable of covering up bothersome outside noises.

Unlike common sounds you hear everyday such as the human voice, music, and so forth, it covers nearly the entire range of sounds the human ear can hear, rather than only a small part of it.

I’ve seen how well it works inside a local therapists office where several are used in the main hallway between office doors. The effect was soft, calming, and it added a sense of relaxation to the environment as well.

Note that people often use the term “white noise” interchangeably when describing other sound types like brown noise for example. For all practical purposes that’s not an issue.

What are white noise machines used for?

As I’m a light sleeper myself (and have had some rather terrible experiences in noisy hotels) I’ve learned how helpful these devices can be.

White noise machines are generally used for a few basic situations;

Business offices

Therapy offices

Baby sleep rooms

Study rooms/personal rooms for study

Bedrooms as a sleep aid

Hotel rooms to block adjacent noise

There aren’t any real hard and fixed uses for them – you can use them just about anywhere there’s a need to mask out environmental, office, or outside sounds that interrupt concentration and relaxation.

Outside sounds have a way of triggering thoughts, feelings, and potentially affecting the mood and emotional state. That’s especially negative when clients are attending therapy sessions.

Note that it’s recommended to place a noise machine several feet away (or more) in order to work well for blocking noise in a room. They’re generally not used immediately near a bed or patient’s couch or chair, for example.

How does a white noise machine work?

White noise machines produce a noise over a wide range of audio frequencies that cover – and effectively block – sounds that distract from therapy sessions. As long as the outside sound is equal to or less than the white noise produced by the machine, the noise will no longer be heard. It’s a very effective way to provide a calm, anxiety-free environment in your office.

The human brain, in most cases, cannot discern a mixed variety of sounds as there’s too much information to process when received all at once Think of listening to 3 radios playing at the same time. Can you distinguish each individual radio? No, we can’t. The same principle applies for noise machines.

Accordingly, white noise machines mask, or cover up, outside sounds like the human voice, traffic and cars, and so on.

As long as the volume of the noise in question is about the same as that of the white noise machine it won’t be “heard” (noticed) by the brain and attention won’t be drawn to it.

For clients in a therapy room this means there are no outside sound elements to potentially trigger thought processes, anxiety, or a general loss of focus from the therapist-client relationship.

How they generate sound

Most sound machines generate their soothing sounds in one of two ways:

Electromechanical generation

Using solid-state electronics and speakers

Electromechanical designs are some of the oldest and easiest to use models. Most consist of a type of fan with blades and an electric motor which spins to create air flow and sounds.

Electronic models use integrated circuit components to generate a noise pattern (or patterns). They often have additional options like various sound types, volume controls, and so forth.

Both have pros and cons: while electromechanical devices are very reliable and extremely simple to use, they draw a bit more power than electronic types.

Electronic sound generators are a bit less simple to use and use an artificially generated noise pattern. In some cases their sound production is less effective and they have poor bass sound blocking ability (like the human voice, for example).

How many white noise machines do I need?

One suggested use I’ve seen used in a therapy office is placing the white noise machines in the hallway. In this idea, the machines (2 for about every 3 offices or so) are placed in a staggered fashion on opposite sides of the hallway. Otherwise consider getting one for each office, placed off to the side and not directly near the therapist or client chairs.

Marpac, a major manufacturer of some of the most popular ones, suggests one machine per roughly every 300 square feet of room size (about a 10 x 30 foot room).

However, they can also be placed outside of the office in the hallway depending upon your office suite’s floor plan. I’ve seen them placed in the hallway in between offices rather than in the offices themselves. In that case the therapists used on one machine on each side for about every 3 office doors, with about 4 used total.

So I’d recommend:

One machine per individual room OR

2 per hallway side, for every 3 rooms, if placed in the hallway

For very small offices about 2 should work well outside your therapy rooms.

Note that these are general guidelines to begin with and the effectiveness of any white noise machine varies a lot based upon the volume and type of noises you’re dealing with.

Lots of great sound options!

Some of the fan sounds include that of a box fan, oscillating fan, and low-tone mellow fan. The ambient noise variations like “tan”, “coral”, and “pure white” are a pleasant variation of background sounds to block unwanted sources of noise.

Not only that, but it can be powered by either a USB supply both or United States 120V power outlets (US power model) as well as UK/European Union voltage (global power model).

The LectroFan is available in a sharp-looking black model as well.

There’s a 60-minute timer available as well as a push-button volume control to adjust as needed. There are no internal moving parts to fail and it produces quality sound with the high-fidelity speaker design used.

With its classic design originating from decades ago, it was redesigned over the years but the fundamentals are still the same: an easy-to-use white noise machine with a motor-based sound generator.

The Classic features a 2 level volume control and no complicated controls to fuss with.

Just switch it to one of the speeds available using the 2-position switch and enjoy a calm, distraction-free environment.

The Marpac Dohm Classic features a simple but modern-looking design. It’s also available in black and tan as well.

Not only that, but you can adjust the sound and tone of the noise produced by simple rotating the outside shell. Doing so affects air flow from it, shaping the sound produced to better fit your needs and helps you find what’s more pleasant for you, too.

3. Snooz White Noise Sound Machine – A great combination of modern and classic technology.

The Snooz white noise machine is a well-designed little device that provides the best of both worlds: natural sound production (instead of simulated) for wonderful white noise, but with the benefits of modern technology too.

The brushless motor-driven internal fan provides years of trouble-free sound production. There are 10 volume settings available and similar to the Marpac Dohm product, you can customize the tone of the sound by simply rotating the outer body.

Want to customize the sound? Just rotate the outer body and to change it as you like. Top-mounted touch controls are available and clearly marked for hassle-free operation.

The Snooz features great volume (a quiet 46db up to a high 87dB) which exceeds the performance of many other models. It’s one of the best-rated for masking irritating and bothersome sounds around you.

Control one or more noise machines right from your smart phone! The wireless interface is easy to use and makes operation especially convenient. Change the volume, change on/off times, and more without leaving your work desk.

Not only that, but you can control one or more units without leaving the comfort of your bed or office!

The Bluetooth interface allows easy control of all major functions via your iPhone or Android device.

The auto on-off scheduler allows automatic operation so you won’t have to even worry about turning it on or off everyday. Additionally, you can control multiple devices by smart phone and name them to keep track of each room.

It’s also available in two attractive, contemporary colors as well.

PROS:

Bluetooth smart phone remote control (iPhone, Android)

Adjustable sound/tone

Simple operation

Touch controls

Natural white noise production

Brushless long-life motor

Two colors to choise

Low power consumption (9W)

Operate multiple rooms from phone app

10-level volume control

Great performance and sound masking ability

Auto-scheduling feature

Great for travel

CONS:

Limited to 10-step volume control

No black or white model available

No WiFi option

Cannot operate scheduling without phone app

More expensive than others

No USB power option

It’s one of the best money can buy – a great mix of natural-sounding noise generation with the added benefit of smart phone control.

The Avantek White Noise Basic is a great compromise between performance, features, and especially cost. If you’re looking to spend $50 and below, it’s definitely well worth considering.

With and adjustable volume you can set in increments of 30 steps, it can provide up to a whopping 115dB of volume. That’s much higher than the competition.

Additionally, the memory feature means it retains the last settings and will start back up where you left off when turning it on next time – no need to fumble around with the settings every time.

Not interested in the black model? The Avantek Basic is also available in a more conservative-looking white model as well. The Basic is both easy to use and features simple controls which reduce cost while allowing more options than other models.

A sharp-looking satin black finish with a blue trim ring on time sets is apart from the boring style of other brands. However, if that’s not a good fit for your office, there’s a more modest white version available as well.

The controls are very simple to use – use the volume up/down and track forward/back to change the loudness or current sound option just like an MP3 player. Very easy, and very intuitive!

A total of 20 soothing sounds are available to help provide your clients with a calm, stress-free environment:

6 white noise sounds

6 fan sounds

8 nature sounds

Use the auto-off timer to have it shut off automatically or use the continuous play feature for uninterrupted and clear background sounds all day long.

PROS:

18 month warranty

Simple controls – similar to MP3 player

Volume adjustment up/down buttons

Auto off timer: 1-7 hours

20 sounds available

Memory function for restoring last settings automatically

2 color choices (black, white)

AC power or USB power inputs

Soft-fade volume decrease at end of timer

Non-looping sounds (continuous without breaks)

Auto-off timer LED indicator lights (indicates hour selection)

Lower power use

CONS:

7-hour auto-off timer is a bit short for typical sleep

No smart phone control

Can’t adjust sound tones – plays fixed sound types

No headphone jack for connection to speaker system

No touch controls

Ambient sound options only available in Pro model

On a budget, but don’t want bottom-end quality? The Avantek Basic line in my experience a good compromise between cost, features, and ease of use.

5. Big Red Rooster BRRC107 Sound Machine – A good basic budget option

Is your office budget a bit tight, but you still need the best you can get for your therapy sessions? The Big Red Rooster BRRC107 may be just what you need.

The BRRC107 features 6 different background sounds:

Rain

Gentle brook

Thunder

White noise

Ocean sounds

Summer night

Additionally, while it’s not expensive, there’s also a very helpful auto-off time with settings for 15, 30, or 60 minutes.

One unique feature is the power source option – while it can be powered by the standard AC adapter (included) you can also use 3 AA batteries when no AC power source is available. It’s great for travel!

While not all sounds are optimal for a therapist-client situation, the white noise, brook, and rain sound options are great choices for most situations.

The controls are clear and easy to use – including the simple and direct volume up/down controls as well. Sound quality isn’t quite as good as the other models I’ve listed, but that’s a compromise that works well for some buyers.

Overall, it’s a cost-effective solution for those who have tight office budgets but need a good way to improve their patient’s experience.

PROS:

Small size

Simple & clear push button controls

15, 30, and 60 minute auto-off timers

Battery power option

Travel-ready design

6 sound options

Adjustable volume controls

Popular model with many good reviews

Lower power use

Low cost

CONS:

Sound quality could better

No additional color options

Limited sound choices

No smart phone control

Timer options are limited

No USB power connections

You don’t have to break your budget when shopping for a noise machine for your office.

Editor’s choice: the best white noise machine for therapy offices

Overall, the LectroFan from Advanced Sound Technologies is my top recommendation for a white noise machine for therapy sessions.

It’s a wonderful compromise between performance, features, and price. It’s also lightweight and easy to travel with, if needed.

Not only that, but there are thousands of happy buyer reviews. When compared to other products in the same price range (near $50 or so), it’s very clear the LectroFan is a better value.

While I would have preferred more volume level options or a smart phone control option, those are minor complaints when you look at all you get. It’s a great sounding unit I’ve enjoyed testing. I’m confident it will bring a more calm and productive environment for both you and your clients.